Woman's Book of Sleep

by Amy R. Wolfson

Explaining the physiological and psychological factors that affect women's sleep patterns, this guide reviews the variety of intervention strategies that are thought to enhance sleep. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1572242493
• ISBN13: 9781572242494
• Release Date: August 2001
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
• Length: 217 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Focus on women's sleep

Did you know that most people who suffer from sleep disorders are woman older than 35? Until recently, most sleep research was conducted on male university students between the ages of 18 and 23. When female participants were involved in the studies, they were mostly treated the same as their male counterparts. However, women are subject to a much wider range of hormonal cycles which impact many of their body systems and behaviors. Sleep is one of those systems. After a brief introduction to sleep, the author focuses on specific aspects of women's sleep and sleeping patterns in the context of their hormonal lives: the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum months, combining motherhood with work and of course menopause. This is one of only a few books that actually meets a huge demand for information and advice specifically aimed at women on how to deal with sleep disorders. The book also includes a refreshing look at sleep and emotional well-being. Sleep disorders can often be a symptom for other underlying issues and the book dedicates a whole chapter to list the problems that may be hidden by sleep. This chapter would be very useful for women as a basis for discussion with their medical care givers. Menopausal woman suffering from sleep problems can also find a dedicated chapter that discusses their specific needs. I liked the detailed review of the link between the hormonal system and its cycles and its impact on a woman's body. This was important for me as a sleep coach as it provides me with material to work with women around educating them on their body, their hormonal system and the way they experience that system. By understanding the facts they can create a new picture in their mind and form a new narrative that could be more useful for them. The book flows smoothly and gives the reader information that is easily understood and can use to take steps to improve their sleeping habits. The book is informative and builds general knowledge on the topic of sleep. The Appendix includes some practical material to evaluate the readers' sleep patterns and provides guidance on using relaxation techniques. The book's information can help readers with minor sleep issues, however, for more serious issues people would still need to see sleep professionals including sleep coaches.